Addressivity

G. S. Morson*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapter

5 Scopus citations

Abstract

Addressivity, a term coined by Mikhail Bakhtin in his attempt to redirect linguistics, indicates that an essential feature of language is that it is always oriented to a listener. Addressivity is what turns a sentence, a mere potential utterance, into an actual utterance. Listeners do not just respond to an utterance after it is made; they also shape it while it is being made. Addressivity also includes an utterance's implicit dialogue with earlier utterances on the same topic. Words 'remember' their contexts. Addressivity also includes the utterance's orientation to a 'superaddressee,' an imagined perfect listener who would understand perfectly.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationEncyclopedia of Language & Linguistics
PublisherElsevier Ltd
Pages55-58
Number of pages4
ISBN (Print)9780080448541
DOIs
StatePublished - 2006

Keywords

  • Addressivity
  • Alibi
  • Already-spoken-about
  • Dialogue
  • Double-voiced
  • Inner speech
  • Reader reception theory
  • Responsibility
  • Sidelong glance
  • Superaddressee
  • Surplus
  • Surprisingness
  • Utterance
  • Word with a loophole

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Agricultural and Biological Sciences(all)

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